Mark Schlereth Makes The Case For The Jets NOT Drafting Zach Wilson #2
The Jets currently hold the #2 pick in the approaching NFL Draft. Zach Wilson becoming the newest New York QB is all but a certainty at this point, but Mark Schlereth explained to me today why he thinks they should think hard about bringing in their next "savior".
"I understand how valuable the position is," Schlereth said. "I also understand from 2009 to 2016 there were 22 first round quarterbacks drafted - guys who were going to change your franchises' future - and none of those guys are still on the teams that drafted them. What makes you think that the Jets, who just in 2018 took the quarterback of the future in Sam Darnold, and basically got the shit beat out of him, and then we're moving onto the "quarterback of the future" in Zach Wilson and NOW it's going to be different?"
Those numbers are hard to deny. It's the ultimate "caught between a rock and a hard place" as a team. Not too often, the Jets could be one of the exceptions, that you're drafting in a spot to get your 'potential' Patrick Mahomes, or Josh Allen, or whomever has been successful at the position. At the same time he is right about how they just went through this cycle three years ago.
Now, Darnold has looked like complete ass granted he didn't have much help around him. If he goes down to Carolina and thrives with Christian McCaffrey and Robby Anderson and co. then we'll chalk up another L to the Jets for not being able to have success with a guy who had skill. But he very well could just be a straight up dud and won't succeed no matter where you put him.
On the flip side of Stink's argument is all the quarterbacks who have succeeded from the 2018 draft and beyond. Baker Mayfield has led the Browns back to the playoffs, Josh Allen has turned the Bills into contenders, Lamar Jackson electrified the league and won MVP, Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow both showed tons of promise in their respective rookie seasons.
At the end of the day your roster can be stacked as stacked can be and without the right quarterback you won't be able to be playing the first weekend of February.
Catch the full interview with Mark Schlereth from today's show.